5 Reasons Long-Term Inpatient Drug Rehab is Recommended

The prospect of entering inpatient drug rehab can seem daunting enough without wondering if it will do any good. More oftentimes than not, getting the level of care needed can mean the difference between a successful recovery and starting back at square one within six months time.

Inpatient rehab provides a structured and safe place for you to begin recovery.

Long-term inpatient drug rehab involves living at a treatment facility for the duration of the program. Rather than the standard 28-day stay, long-term inpatient drug rehab can run as long as three months. While this may seem like a long time to spend away from your daily life, there are certain real benefits to choosing a long-term versus short-term treatment stay.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, drug dependency works in much the same way as a chronic medical disorder. As with any chronic disorder, the potential for relapse never really goes away. For this reason, short-term “fixes” do little to break a cycle of drug dependence.

If you’re considering getting drug rehab help, here are five reasons why long-term inpatient drug rehab is recommended –

1. Safety & Supervision

Drug rehab offers addicts a way to confront the underlying issues that drive a person to seek escape through drugs. In order to help addicts get to the roots of addiction, psychotherapy and counseling treatment make up a big part of the drug rehab process.

During the course of treatment, traumatic memories and difficult emotions can surface and easily overwhelm a person. The ongoing supervision provided in drug rehab provides the type of support and guidance needed to work through these difficult issues.

2. Relapse Barriers

Maintaining abstinence for the first 90 days can go a long way towards establishing a person’s resolve and commitment to the recovery process. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, programs lasting less than 90 days have little to no effectiveness in breaking the cycle of drug use. Long-term inpatient drug rehab offers recovering addicts the space and time needed to develop the mindset and behaviors that support a drug-free lifestyle.

3. Time to Heal

When it comes to drug addiction recovery, short-cut approaches to treatment often lead to frustration and disappointment down the road. Once addiction takes hold, only time spent in treatment can reverse its damaging effects. Long-term inpatient drug rehab allows recovering addicts the time needed to grow accustomed to drug-free living.

4. Improved Physical Health

Chronic drug use not only disrupts major chemical processes throughout the body, but also leaves harmful toxins behind. The time spent in long-term inpatient drug rehab allows the body time to recover from the harmful effects of drugs and may well be the first time in a longtime a person actually feels healthy.

5. Structured Environment

Chaos and drama best characterize the day-to-day world of the addiction lifestyle. These conditions do a good job at mirroring the loss of control addicts experience with drug use. Long-term inpatient drug rehab provides a structured treatment environment where recovering addicts can rebuild their identities and re-establish a sense of purpose in their lives.